“In my Oxford speech in 1993 I argued for a much greater effort to
be made to encourage understanding between the Islamic and
Western worlds. My firm belief in the importance of that process has
not changed. The harm that will be done to both cultures if
ignorance and prejudice persist - or grow - will be incalculable.
There are many ways in which this understanding and appreciation can
be built. But even if we begin with a simple understanding of
the sacred, which permeates every aspect of our world, there is
the potential for establishing new and valuable links between
Islamic civilisation and the West. Perhaps, for instance, we could
begin by having more Muslim teachers in British schools, or
by encouraging exchanges of teachers. Everywhere in the world
people are seemingly wanting to learn English. But in the West, in
turn, we need to be taught by Islamic teachers how to learn once
again with our hearts, as well as our heads... The
approaching Millennium may be the ideal catalyst for helping to
explore and stimulate these links, and I hope we shall not ignore
the opportunity this gives us to rediscover the spiritual
underpinning of our entire existence. For myself, I am convinced
that we cannot afford, for the health and sustainability of a
civilised existence, any longer to ignore these timeless features
of our world. A sense of the sacred can, I believe, help
provide the basis for developing a new relationship of
understanding which can only enhance the relations between
our two faiths - and indeed between all faiths - for the
benefit of our children and future generations."
Prince Charles, A Sense of the Sacred: Building Bridges Between Islam and the West© Copyright St James's Palace and the Press Association Ltd 1998.